I love the hustle and bustle of a New Year approaching. Some folks like to wind down and enjoy the holiday spirit filled with parties, food, drinks, shopping and of course, friends and family. For others like us, we know that we eat what we kill. The holiday’s are always a time when we have to plan how we jump start our new year in order to get our books where we need them to be. So goes the plight (and excitement) of owning a small business. So what are some ways to end the year and prepare ourselves for the right start to 2016?
Plan Plan Plan: Hopefully you aren’t waiting for the end of the year to do this. You should have some sort of basic plan for the year and each quarter. Matter of fact, planning should be a regular part of your business. Of course the implementation is just as important, but you don’t want to be one of those businesses that go where the wind blows. Flexibility is always important in any plan in order to take advantage of opportunities or issues that arise, but starting out with a goal and a plan to reach that goal is key in helping to focus your attention and efforts in the right direction.
Create your vision: Vision boarding is something that has really surfaced and taken off in the past few years. It is centered on the idea that visualization is a key part of manifesting our goals and dreams. There are lots of studies on visualization and how the brain and body react to being stimulated though images and meditation. That said, there really isn’t a rule to creating a vision board. You can use poster board, cork boards, white boards, and even build one on the computer as long as you have your board in a place where you will see it regularly. If your board is about your business goals, I would recommend keeping it near your work space so that as you work you can keep your goals at the forefront of your subconscious.
Find a suitable stopping point: We know we must take some time off before the New Year hits, so in preparation for your mini break, find a good place to stop your operations. You may want to prep your promotionals, paper work or client files so that you can start with a clear head and feel organized as you bring the year to a close. You can work on setting up any meeting you will have early in January and be sure your calendar is prepared. Don’t forget to set your holiday auto responder on your e-mail so clients and customers will know when to expect your response. Having these types of tasks in order can really help ease your mind and actually allow you a good mental break from work on which ever days you plan to take off.
Actually take a break: I know, I know. This is the hardest part of all. Entrepreneurs are some of the hardest working folks out there. We clock, on average, over 80 hours a week and the vast majority of us have family responsibilities to tend to as well. This means when it’s time to take a break, we truly have to take a break. Our bodies and minds will inevitably need the recharge we will get from a night or two relaxing in order to have maximum energy to hit it hard in the New Year. We often feel guilty for turning off our social media, putting away our phones and not answering emails and voicemail. But I encourage you to learn to create both balance and boundaries. When I do take a break and put up my phone, I am realistic enough to keep a pad a pen laying around to catch all my thoughts and ideas that will certainly come. This way, when I get back into my productive space, I haven’t forgotten all the things that my mind has conjured up and I am able to enjoy the break time.
I hope these tips help you wind down the year and get a great jump start on your New Year. If you have other ways you prep for a new year, don’t forget to share and drop your comments below. Stay connected! We are expecting great things to happen in the business community in 2016. Remember, we are here to help your business grow!
Find these tips helpful? Don’t forget to share!!
